Method of electromagnetic prospecting by transmitting from two spaced points electromagnetic fields of the same shape



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May 2l, 1963 J METHOD 0F ELEc'rRouAGNE'rI Filmd Hay 18. 1961 'mo sPAcEn Forms ELECTROMAGEQIEMG FIEUJS 3 Shaman 2 OFTHE INVENTOR #MES DMVCN CRO/VE May 2l, 1963 J. D. cRoNE namen oF ELEcTRouAGNE'x-rc Pnospnc'rmc By mnsnmmc mon no Smm: Poms macrnoncmrc Fmns or 'ma sum sam:

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed lay 18, 1961 NVENOR JAMES DUNCAN CPONE www i,udtlrltll ME'HHD @E BllilC'illtUll/LAGWETKC PRSBECT- llNtG Blf TltANBll/imllhl@ mll/l TW@ SBACED PUHltJlTS ELBC'I'lliDlt/AGNTEILH@ iiililblii@ 0F THE SAME ilitlAhlE llames iiinncnn (Irene, ilii it/inrdoch Ave., Noranda,

' Quebec, @sands Filed May 1d, will, der.. No. lllddid 9 Claims. itil. .idem-ti) This invention relates to an electromagnetic method of geophysical prospecting.

lt is well known that one can detect subterranean conductor anomalies lby transmitting electromagnetic signals into the ground in such a manner that they couple with a sought conductor and detecting the resultant electromagnetic field at a point spaced from the transmitting station.

Many procedures of transmitting a signal and measuring the resultant field are lrnown.

This invention relates to a procedure that is very rapid, requiresrelatively light apparatus and can effectively be used in country where there is substantial difference in elevation between the transmitting and receiving stations.

Generally speaking, the method comprises the transmission of an electromagnetic iield from point A measuring the dip angle resulting from the iicld at a point B spaced therefrom, transmitting an electromagnetic field similar to the one that was transmitted from A, from the point B and measuring the dip angle resulting from the iield transmitted from point B at point A. A comparison of the dip angles measured in accordance with the above procedure at points A and B will give an indication of a conductor anomaly.

r[he invention will be clearly understood after reference to the following detailed specification read in conjunction with the drawings.

ln the drawings:

FiGURE l is a schematic illustration showing stations frorn which coils according to the present invention are operated as transmitters and receivers;

FlGURE 2 is a plan view of one of the coils of FIG- URE. 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to lilGURl 1 showing the effect of an ore body;

iilGURE 4 shows a coil and its related equipment;

FIGURE 5 is a view showing apparatus -being used.

As indicated above, in practising the method of this invention, two stations A and B are chosen and two coils of similar geometry and electrical characteristics lil and l2 are employed. Associated with cach coil is a battery-operated oscillator adapted to create an alternating current therein to cause the coil to transmit electromagnetic signals and thereby create an electromagnetic field. The apparatus for supplying alternating current to transmitting coils in `geophysical instruments is very welllmown to those skilled in the art and it is not necessary in this specification to give detail of it.

The frequency of the electromagnetic eld and the power required to yget good penetration are both considcrations that are well-known to those skilled in the art and further reference will not be made to them here.

As well as being able to transmit a signal and create an Velectromagnetic field, each of the coils i and 12 is capable of acting as an antenna, within the spacing of the stations A and B, to detect a field transmitted by the other coil and has an amplifier and signal detecting device associated therewith according to ltnown practice.

Each of the coils is substantially the same shape so that the electromagnetic fields transmitted thereby are Bhilill Patented May 2i, '1h63 lCe substantially identical in shape and the power producing units associated with each of the coils are of substantially the same power so that the resulting fields from each of the coils are of about the same strength.

In practice, a signal is applied to coil 10 at station A. Coil 10 is held at an arbitrary inclination of say .angle XA to the vertical and a current passed therethrough to create an electromagnetic field generally indicated by the numeral 21; station B is chosen adjacent the vertical plane passing through the principal axis of coil iti. Coil 12, tuned as a receiver to the frequency of the field transmitted from A, is turned at station B to determine the direction of the electromagnetic field resulting from the transmission from coil 10 at station A. lt is prefer able to rotate coil 12 untila null is detected on the audible signal device of its associated amplifier according to standard geophysical practice. A null is detected with the coil 12 in the dotted line position (i.e., when plane of coil is aligned with the direction of the magnetic field) and dip angle YB is measured.

At station B coil 12 is then oriented to assume an angle XB to the vertical to equal XA with its principal axis in a vertical plane that is adjacent coil 10 at station A. 'It will be noted that the principal axis of the coil 12 when it is in the transmitting position, is parallel to the principal axis 10a of the coil 10 `when it was previously in the transmitting position, so that the principal axes of the transmitted fields are substantially parallel. By the term parallel in this application, it is intended that the extreme case of when the distance between the two axes is zero (that is, they are coincident) -be included. A signal is then transmitted from coil 12 by its associated transmitter having the same frequency and strength as the signal transmitted from coil lid at station A to create an electromagnetic field. Coil lili is operated as a detector with its associated amplifier and audible signal detector to measure the direction of this eld at the point A. The principal axis of the coil. is also the principal axis of the magnetic field created thereby.

The dip angle as determined by the direction of the fields at points A and B are then compared. li the angles YA and YB are the same at points A and B, it is an indication that there is no subterranean anomaly. lf, however, there is a difference lbetween the angles YA and YB at the stations A and B, this is an indication that there is a subterranean anomaly.

The receiving coil in each instance is adjacent the vertical plane passing through the principal axis of the transmitting coil. In practice, employing a transmitting frequency of between 480 and 1800 cycles per second and a transmitting power of six watts, the stations A and B are about 200 feet apart. Under these conditions, the receiving coil is with little di-fiiculty located in the vertical plane passing through the principal axis of the transmitting coil or very close to it. However, it has been found that to locate the receiving coil in a vertical plane, that intersects the vertical plane passing through the principal axis of the transmitting coil adjacent the point of transmission, does not materially affect the accuracy of the method.

In FIGURE 2, which is a partial plan view of FIG- URE l showing the coil at station A, the numeral 1d refers Ato a vertical plane passing through the principal axis of the coils 10 and 12, the numeral 16 refers to a vertical plane passing through the station A and 45 from the plane 14 and the numeral 18 refers to a vertical plane 45 from the plane 14 and passing through the station A. When transmitting from the station A, a reliable result can be obtained at least anywhere be tween the contained planes 16 and 18.

in lFiGURlZ 3, the cllect of a sub anomaly on dip angle is illustrated. la this c c transmitting coil in at station A creates a magnoic held generally indicated by the numeral lll. Currents induced in the ore body 13 which create an eiectronlagnctic iield generally indicated by the numeral lili. the station. the magnetic field li; is represented by the vector lli and magnetic field 15 is represented by the vector The resultant magnetic field is represented by the vector 2li. A. null will bc detected by the coil ill?. at station i3 when the coil is aligned with the direction ol the resultant vector Ztll. in this case, the angle YD has been increased in size due to the effect of thc conductor anomaly Transmission back from station to A the same as previously described. it will be apparent, however, that; the angle YA will not bc the saune in magnitude as YB because the eil'ect of the conductor anomaly i3 on the clip :rist-ation A will not be the same the effect ci the conductor anomaly on the dip at station in FIGURE 4, there is illustrated appropriate apparatus for practising the invention. these fixtures, i am assigning different numbers to the numbers assigned to the coils in the schematic illustration of iFlGUliiES l, 2 and 3. The apparatus comprises two coils it@ and 22 each having a block .'fi and respectively and a gravity seeking indicator and respcctit'ely mounted thereon. The numerals and refer to boxes for the signal-prociucing oscillator and ampliiicr for amplifying detected signals. Numerals and refer to head phones used by an operator of the couipment to detect the output of the amplifier when the units are used as receiver. Cables riti and i2 contain the necessary connections between the coils fitti and respectively to their 'respective oscillators and amplifiers. Appropriate controis are provided for causing the coils o act as trans-- :hitters or receivers when reo o. ""l'ie .icctricai design or" thc coils and transmitters and anipliers is not thought to be relevant and is not referred to in greater detail in this specification.

The wedges 24 and are cut so `that the surface thereof that supports the gravity indicating dcviccs and 30 respectively is on a, surface that maires an angle equal to the angles XA and XB as illustrated in FlGURi l. have found that an angie XA and XE cquai to l5 gives a satisfactory and workable device.

Thus, by holding the `coil ltf so that; the gravity seeliing indicator 25%. aligns with the gravit 'ionai field of the earth, the plane oi coil Si@ is automaticaliy the angie X to the vertical. Transmission is effec l when the gravity seeking arm oi thc indicator is in this position.

When the unit is used as receiver, scale indicated by the numeral fili is provided for the gravity indicating devices that will read the angi Y directly. The receiving coil will bc in a generally horizontal position as indicated in FIGURE 4 when no anomaly is present.

FiGUliE 5 shows the apparatus in actual use. 1in this figure, coil 7.0 is being used as a transmitter and coil is being used as a receiver. lhc oscillator and amplifier are contained in the knapsaclts and worn by the two users. Vit will he appreciated that after the reading is taken, the coil will be operated as transmitter and the coil Ztl will be operated as a re eivcr in accordance with the detailed operational instructions given above.

lmbodimcnts of this invention other than the one illustrated will be apparent to th sltillcd art and it is not my intention that the roregoing specification be read in a limiting sense.

What l claim as my invention is:

l. A method of geophysical prospecting comprising the steps of propagating a irst. -primary electromagnetic tield from station A, measuring the inclination of the electrorilagnetic iield that is the resultant ci' said primary di L lli

electromagnetic field and any other electromagnetic heid induced thereby at station B, station l5', being spaced from station A, propagating a second primary electromagnetic eld from adjacent station B, said second primary cleo tromagnetic field having its principal axis substantially parallel to the principal axis of said first primary electromagnetic field previously propagated from station A, said first primary electromagnetic field and said second primary electromagnetic eld'having the same shape, measuring the inclination of thc electromagnetic held that is the resultant of said second electromagnetic fic-ld and any other electromagnetic field induced thereby anja.'- ccnt station A, and comparing the inclinations measured 'at stations A and B as an indication of a conductor anomaly.

2. A method of geophysical prospecting as claimed in claim l in which station B is adjacent the vertical plane through the principal axis of said first primary electro magnetic field.

3. A method of geophysical prospecting as claimed in claim 2 in which said irst primary electromagnetic held and said second primary electromagnetic tield are substantially the same strength.

4. A method of geophysical prospecting as claimed in claim l in which said first primary electromagnetic iicld. and said second primary electromagnetic licld arc saliu Stantially the same strength.

5. A method oi geophysical prospecting as claimed in claim 1 in which Said second primary electromagnetic field is propagated from adjacent station as aforesaid and the propagation point is always contained by a hrst vertical plane through the principal axis of the primary magnetic field emanating from station A and a second vertical plane through station A at an angle of i5" to said first vertical plane.

6. A method of geophysical prospecting comprising the steps of propagating a first primary electromagnetic field from station A, measuring the inclination of' the electromagnetic iicld that is the resultant of said first primary electromagnetic field and any other electromagnetic field induced thereby at station li, station B being spaced from station A, propagating a second primary electromagnetic field at station B, said second primary electromagnetic field having its principal axis substantialiy parallel to the principal axis of said first. primary electromagnetic field previously propagated from station A, said tirst primary electromagnetic field and said second primary electromagnetic iield having the same shape. measuring the inclination of thc electromagnetic ticld that is the resultant of said second electromagnetic field and any other electromagnetic field induced thereby at station A, and comparing the inclinations measured at stations A and B as an indication of a conductor anomaly.

7. A method of geophysical prospecting as claimed in claim 6 in which station B is adjacent the vertical plane through the principal axis of said first primary elcctromagnetic field.

S. A method of geophysical prospecting as claimed in claim 7 in which said rst primaryclectromagnetic held and said second primary electromagnetic ield are substantially thc same strength.

9. A method of geophysical prospecting as claimed in claim 6 in which said first primary electromagnetic :tield and said second primary electromagnetic held are sub0 stantially the same strength.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,678,489 Sundbcrg ..Q..-.. luly 24, i928 l,718,352 Guilford c irme 25, i929 2,139,460 Potapenko lltcc. 6, w38 

1. A METHOD OF GEOPHYSICAL PROSPECTING COMPRISING THE STEPS OF PROPAGATING A FIRST PRIMARY ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD FROM STATION A, MEASURING THE INCLINATION OF THE ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD THAT IS THE RESULTANT OF SAID FIRST PRIMARY ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD AND ANY OTHER ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD INDUCED THEREBY AT STATION B, STATION B BEING SPACED FROM STATION A, PROPAGATING A SECOND PRIMARY ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD FROM ADJACENT STATION B, SAID SECOND PRIMARY ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD HAVING ITS PRINCIPAL AXIS SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE PRINCIPAL AXIS OF SAID FIRST PRIMARY ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD PREVIOUSLY PROPAGATED FROM STATION A, SAID FIRST PRIMARY ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD AND SAID SECOND PRIMARY ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD HAVING THE SAME SHAPE, MEASURING THE INCLINATION OF THE ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD THAT IS THE RESULTANT OF SAID SECOND ELECTROMAGNETIC AND ANY OTHER ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD INDUCED THEREBY ADJACENT STATION A, AND COMPARING THE INCLINATIONS MEASURED AT STATIONS A AND B AS AN INDICATION OF A CONDUCTOR ANOMALY. 